UV lamp to detect fossils?

[ericwt]

Anyone used a UV light to look for fossils? Just curious.

Ericwt

 

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[omnicognic]

Unfortunately, by definition, a fossil is created by the replacement of the original plant or animal tissues with minerals, so I would think that UV would only show contrast of the different minerals and not show up fluorescent like most biological substances! Just my opinion though! HH omnicognic 8)

 

[bakergeol]

No it would not be practical. Fossils composed of calcite(calcium carbonate) do fluoresce under UV but it is easier to simply eyeball them. Also if their host rock is limestone, the limestone? will fluoresce also depending upon the calcium carbonate/clay ratio. A lot of fossiliferous limestone beds have the same fluorescence throughtout including the fossils. Fluorescent minerals ,however, are fun.

George